Treasurer’s Note Newsletter

Two men walk along a dirt lot where wood framing for a house is being built

Investing in the Place We Call Home

It can be hard to leave a house you’ve lived in for more than a quarter century. We make a lot of memories in our homes, but I think it’s even more difficult when you built the house yourself. I can’t say for certain because I don’t have the skills to build a house, unlike my older brother, James. Last spring, he sold the house that he built nearly 30 years ago. James has gone through two union apprenticeship programs. He has been trained as an operating engineer and as…

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Treasurer Frerichs facing the camera as a blurred image of cash is visible behind him. Overlaying text reads: Making Saving for College Simple

Relieving the Pains of College Planning

My daughter will be a high school senior, which means we have been visiting a lot of colleges this summer as she prepares to apply to universities in the fall. This has given us a lot of quality, dad-daughter time together. It’s sad to think about the day I will drop her off at college, but I prefer to focus on and enjoy the time I have with her now. I have really enjoyed our campus visits because of great conversations about what she is looking for in a college…

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Treasurer Frerichs marches down a street at the Illinois State Fairgrounds during the twilight parade as crowds line the street.

A Few of My Favorite Fair Memories

As a kid, I always looked forward to the Champaign County Fair in late July. I loved the rides: the bumper cars, the tilt-a-whirl, and the potato sack slide. I loved the food: the corn dogs, the elephant ears, and all things fried. I loved the grandstand shows: the tractor pulls where my family would sometimes compete, the motorcycle races, and the demolition derby. And I also loved the games where you could win a prize: the ring toss, shooting baskets, and knocking down milk bottles with a baseball. I…

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Creating Jobs, Driving Innovation. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs. Compilation of images from businesses.

Growing a Business Is a Bit Like Raising Kids

For people who know I have twins, a common question I get asked is: “Are the twins letting you sleep at night?” Max and Theo have been good sleepers for some time now. They let Erica and me get a good night’s sleep most nights. What they don’t let us do is rest any minute they are awake. These boys have a lot of energy. They are always moving but don’t yet understand the risks associated with many of their actions. There is an awful lot of following them around…

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Treasurer Frerichs as a boy, around age 8, climbing the stairs to exit a swimming pool

Helping You Build Good Money Habits

The 1980s seemed to be peak suntanning culture in America. In movies, the cool kids had a deep, dark tan. The ads for sunscreen focused on getting a nice even brown. In the summer, it seemed like everyone was grabbing some rays, and in the winter, tanning beds were a thing. I got caught up in the craze. I never visited a tanning salon, but I also rarely used sunscreen. I don’t think the sun’s harmful effects were clear to me until one particularly long suntanning session on our deck. Sure,…

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